Line 6 Helix

Sporky

With about three weeks more to wait until my Helix arrives I have already started over-thinking things.

More specifically, overdoing the external controls. I was thinking I could use a Source Audio Reflex via MIDI and a Mission Engineering SP-1 into the two expression inputs. I don't know why I would want to do this, but it's quite appealing.

fretmeister

And there I am considering a single channel head with a pedal or two.

For guitar use of course.

For bass I'd have 4 AxeFx each running 2 signal paths if I had the money.

Sporky

If you went for five you could have one per string... just saying.

fretmeister

Ooo. Michael Manring had a bass with 1 output per string (4) for different processing. 

And Victor Wooten recorded a tune with 4 outputs with each string appearing in a different place in the stereo mix.

Strat_a_tat_tat

Sporky said:

If you went for five you could have one per string... just saying.

That is such small time thinking!  Go for 22... ie 1 Axe FX per fret.

Sporky

Well, if you're going to bring a knife to a gunfight... 111.

One per fret per string plus another for global reverb.

Strat_a_tat_tat

Sporky said:

Well, if you're going to bring a knife to a gunfight... 111.

One per fret per string plus another for global reverb.

... plus a full-time IT administrator to roll-out the constant firmware updates across your estate of Axe FXs!

Sporky

Hmm. Best have a second rig so that said administrator can also optimise firmware versions on a per-fret-per-string basis.

Paul_C

Sporky said:

Hmm. Best have a second rig so that said administrator can also optimise firmware versions on a per-fret-per-string basis.

and a third set of 111 for a backup, or just a P Bass and a small combo ?

Sporky

Both.

ChrisMusic

Oh shit !

What am I going to do with my 6 string fretless then ???   :-O

Sporky

You'll need either no AxeFXs or an infinite number. Hard to tell at this point.

kjdowd

I think the correct answer is "hide it so that noone ever finds out you have a six string fretless bass"

kjdowd

kjdowd;966983" said:

I think the correct answer is "hide it so that noone ever finds out you have a six string fretless bass"

I used to have a fretless bass, in my younger days, but it had the fret positions marked on with white lines so I was welcomed neither by the fretted nor the fretless community. It was a harrowing formative experience.

guitargeek62

Sporky said:

You'll need either no AxeFXs or an infinite number. Hard to tell at this point.

Nah - he'll need either 6 or infinite - the open strings still count!

Sporky

An excellent point.

Cabicular

Ok good news from Line6
Line6 Hunter got in touch via PM and asked if he could help
Long story short the Helix is at my office waiting to be picked up by UPS
Fingers crossed for a quick turnaround but I do appreciate them reaching out to me

Cabicular

Btw in case you've missed it one of the guys on the Line 6 forum has done a really nice bit of work in documenting ALL the modelled blocks eg amps fx mics etc and linking them to the product manuals where possible

It's pretty useful especially if you don't have a big gear background or a lot of studio experience

http://helixhelp.com/pmwiki.php

Even if you do it's worth a read

Top bloke whoever he is

Wazmeister

Good article that ^^^

Glas you're getting sorted mate

Mkjackary

guitargeek62;967067" said:

Sporky said:

You'll need either no AxeFXs or an infinite number. Hard to tell at this point.





Nah - he'll need either 6 or infinite - the open strings still count!

I disagree. According to the original premise it is either 0 or infinite per string, 6 strings multiplied by 0 is still 0 and 6 times infinity is still infinity.

However in theory a fretless neck is one big fret, so your 6 or infinity is plausible, however in reality I would say it is closer to an infinate amount of frets due to the infinite amount of possible notes.

Going further, there is not actually infinate amount of possible notes, just as many as the length of the fretboard in atoms.

Now, the chemical composition of wood is 50% carbon, 42% oxygen, 6% hydrogen, 1% nitrogen and some other stuff. As I can't be bothered to figure out the other 1 percent, it gives this calculation for the average diameter.

Average diameter of an atom in the wood molecule is~63 picometers. From the nut to the end of a 25.5" fret-less fretboard is around 0.49 meters. 

To calculate the amount of atoms in the length of the board you simply need to divide the fretboard length into the average diameter of the atoms gives

Which is 7.8 x 10^9

So in actual fact you would only need 7.8 Billion AxeFX.

Fun fact that would cost 17.54961 trillion US$, which is around 3/10 of all the money in the world. 

Furthermore, this would cost around £10.1 million an hour to run.